The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service, is offering Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) grants to specialty crop producers and processors, other select producers, meat and other processors, distributors, and farmers markets to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID–19).
US aquaculture producers marketing products for human consumption and under $5 million in annual receipts/revenue are eligible. Click here for eligibility information.
Approximately $650 million is available. Funds will be used to issue grants for costs incurred between January 27, 2020, the date upon which the public health emergency was declared by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, and December 31, 2021.
Grants will cover the activities associated with:
Workplace Safety: Implementing workplace safety measures to protect workers against COVID-19
- Provide personal protective equipment, thermometers, cleaning supplies, sanitizer, or hand washing stations
- Installation and purchase of air filters or new signage
Market Pivots: Implementing market pivots to protect workers against COVID–19
- Develop and implement online platforms
- Utilize online or print materials to communicate market pivots
Retrofitting Facilities: Retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID–19
- Installation and purchase of protective barriers made of plexiglass or plastic sheeting, walk up windows, heat lamps/heaters, fans, tents, propane, weights, tables, chairs and lighting
Transportation: Providing additional transportation options to maintain social distancing and worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID-19
- Secure additional transportation services for workers
- Offer new delivery routes or distribution services
Worker Housing: Providing worker housing that protects workers against COVID-19
- Secure additional housing resources/services to maintain social distancing or to allow for quarantining of new or exposed employees
Medical: Providing health services to protect workers against COVID-19
- Offer or enable vaccinations, testing, or healthcare treatment of infected employees, including any paid leave due to COVID-19 infection
The minimum funding request amount is $1,500. The maximum funding request amount is $20,000. Funding requests may range from $1,500 to $20,000.
Application Period Opened: October 6, 2021
Application Period Closes: 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 22, 2021
To apply, click here.
All applications submitted before the deadline will be considered for funding. Applications will not be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
USDA developed the PRS Grant Program in response to extensive stakeholder feedback during listening sessions in March 2021, and written comments provided through March 30, 2021. Information from the listening sessions is available online at: www.ams.usda.gov/services/ams-covid-stimulus.
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